Former Coal-Washing Plant Converted Into Intriguing Ruhr Museum in Germany

The intriguing new Ruhr Museum was built on the inside of Zeche Zollverein's dirty coal washing plant in Essen, Germany. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zollverein has a fascinating history that has been both displayed and preserved with this immaculate project executed by Stuttgart-based architects HG Merz.

After four years of planning, HG Merz designed the new museum as a separate entity within the original building. All of the existing infrastructure, including beams and plumbing works, as well as the industrial machinery previously used in the coal washing plant, have been re-purposed as a backdrop to the brighter new exhibits.

Not only does this project maintain the stout architectural glory of the pre-WWII period, but it also celebrates the cultural and natural history of the area. Unlike many of Inhabitat’s projects that showcase the newest and latest technologies, the new Ruhr Museum in Germany highlights the aesthetics of yore with a lovely, modern twist.